Bicycle for an older woman?

Parent Cafe
41

<p>dmd, It depends on the bike. Some bikes feel awful with a front basket with stuff in it, and some feel great. </p>

<p>Minneapolis riders are dedicated. Lots of them ride through the winter! Those trendy fatbikes that people ride in the snow came from Surly which, I think, is a Minneapolis company.</p>

42

<p>I guess I am really cheap. I checked out bikes at dealers until I found a couple I liked, and then camped out on Craigslist until one of them popped up. Got it for 1/4 of the new price. I just can’t bring myself to spend $500+ on a bike. My husband has a very expensive road bike, but he rides it 20 miles each way to work 3-4 times a week plus long trips on weekends so I feel like it is well justified. I just ride for fun. </p>

43

<p>I don’t use my front basket to go grocery shopping. I don’t use my bike to go grocery shopping. I’m a recreational rider. My husband has panniers on his bike and if I were shopping with my bike, that is what I would want.</p>

<p>My little basket can hold my phone, a pair of gloves, a headband, my small lunch, and even a tiny windbreaker. I have water bottle loaders (two) for my water. Those don’t go in the basket. </p>

44

<p>I like having an all-around bike that I can use to pick up some groceries if I happen to need them on the way home from a ride. I don’t use a front basket; I use this:
<a href=“Rivendell Bicycle Works - Lugged Steel and Custom Bikes”>http://www.rivbike.com/product-p/bassl.htm&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>The Large Saddlesack may be the single best bike accessory I have. And I have eight bikes, with lots of accessories on them, so competition for the best accessory is fierce. The other accessory I absolutely love is a generator hub that powers lights. No recharging, no batteries, just turn the light on and it goes on.</p>

45

<p>CF: The country’s largest bicycle distributor (wholesaler) is Quality Bike Products, headquartered in Minneapolis. They manufacture and wholesale the Surly line of bikes, which are great bikes, steel frame, very nice to ride, built to last forever. (I have one and just sold my other one.) Many of our employees in our bike business in Portland are former QBP employees who decided they couldn’t take the winters any more ;-)</p>

<p>MsTee: you might be able to persuade a dealer to let you rent the bike you want and apply your rental fees to your purchase. Also, keep in mind that you don’t have to leave the bike “as is”–it’s easy to change things like the seat–or you can even buy a particular frame and have it built up to be exactly what you want. You can even go completely nuts and have a completely custom bike, made to YOUR measurements and requirements, made.</p>

<p>TakeItallin: the problem with Craiglist is that so many of the bikes on Craigslist are stolen. I hope you asked about the history of the bike you bought for such a good price.</p>

<p>I used to have the attitude that “a bike is a bike is a bike” but after riding a whole lot of different models, I’ve found that the differences are substantial. I think of it as similar the differences between driving an SUV and a Ferrari or an old Ford Escort and a new Honda Fit. </p>

46

<p>I mostly take short rides in the neighborhood, but have ridden on decent hills and on somewhat gravel-y trails. Maybe up to an hour and a half? I use this bike for non hurried transportation and for leisure. </p>

47

<p>DMD, I thought that Surly is owned by QBP, but is a separate company. That is, someone who works for Surly is a Surly employee, not a QBP employee. Same for Salsa; it’s a bike company owned by QBP. I like Surly. I recently bought a Surly Krampus, which is tons of fun although I think maybe I should have gone for a Surly ECR instead.</p>

48

<p>I splurged on a ladies’ Trek bicycle- Wisconsin company… My old, old 3 speed Raleigh (40 years ago?) didn’t have enough gears for me.</p>

49

<p>This will be a splurge, to be sure. I find that I am spending a bit more money on some things now that I am old. Like shoes – no, not designer shoes. Old lady shoes. That keep the pressure off of my knees. In my case, bright pink Brooks running shoes. Where am I going with this. Ah yes, well, I can’t afford a luxury car or a sail boat. Got one more kid to send to college after all – ooops, there went all the luxury cars and sailboats . . . But I can afford a new bicycle. I haven’t had a new bike since I was a kid. This is going to be fun.</p>

50

<p>This is what i discovered i need: step-through, cruiser handbars to sit upright and not put weight on arthritic thumb joints, fenders, back rack, front removable basket, tote-like side/saddle bags, lights, pant leg velcro strap, bell, superduper bike locks. Have fun!</p>

51

<p>CF: I’m not sure exactly how Surly is structured; I’m sure that’s a matter for their accountants and lawyers. However, the entire manufacturing run of Surly bikes is wholesaled by QBP. (I did a check Wikipedia check; the entry appears to have been written by QBP, and it states that Salsa and Surly are owned by QBP.)</p>

52

<p>Surly and Salsa act like separate companies, though. They have separate design staffs, separate corporate images. Surly appears to cherish their bad-boy image. </p>

53

<p>wis75, which Trek bike did you buy? I’m also in the market for a bike.</p>

<p>It seems that dylu13 and I have very similar needs. What did you buy, dylu?</p>

54

<p>I don’t even know what it is (in the basement at the moment, in need of replacement handle bars, from the mountain bike type to the cruiser type). I’ve been testing new ones of all kinds, though. </p>

55

<p>These seats are getting rave reviews.
<a href=“http://www.cirruscycles.com”>http://www.cirruscycles.com</a></p>

56

<p>My son and I were discussing bike options for his girlfriend with one of our employees at our bike store yesterday. (I should say that our employees know far more about bikes than I will ever know–they live and breathe cycling.) The employee said that he regularly sees our customers come in to change their flat cruiser handlebars for drop bars (or other kinds of handlebars) after they’ve been riding their cruiser/city bike for a while. The problem with flat bars is that you have no options for hand position, and thus no options for body position–and if you’re riding for any distance, not being able to change positions can be very tiring. </p>

57

<p>I’m no bike expert. But Costco has this bike in our local stores and you can order online. A hybrid for just under $200 - regular retail $330??? Have some thoughts of buying one for someone in the family…
<a href="http://www.costco.com/Diamondback-Vital-2-Women’s-Hybrid-Bike.product.100090497.html#BVRRWidgetID"&gt;http://www.costco.com/Diamondback-Vital-2-Women’s-Hybrid-Bike.product.100090497.html#BVRRWidgetID&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

58

<p>Didn’t someone look for a bike to ship to his kid? This one from Costco is sold packaged flatter than an IKEA desk! </p>

59

<p>^^^Yes, I saw the boxes in store! Flat for bike pieces! </p>

60

<p>That Costco bike says it has a 15" frame and its height is 19". If that’s accurate, that’s not a women’s bike, it’s a child’s bike.</p>